Blue Bombers -- 2025/26 Offseason -- Discussion Thread

[SpeedFlex27]

57 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

Osh hires the assistant coaches 

Logan showed nothing at returner last year. Don’t see a need to pay him at all. 
 

No real need for a backup American RB on the roster, better to find a DB or WR that can return if Vaval signs down south 

I hope he's back & we sign him for 2 years.

[Tracker]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

plus brought in some good prospects for camp, and we’ve moved on from thomas. big win in my books so far. 

Have we really moved on from Thomas, though? His so-called pass rush was pure and repeated bull rush. If that failed, he was useless as he had nothing else. That said, how can he teach techniques he never had? I see this as O'Shea giving the finger to his critics.

[SpeedFlex27]

Just now, Tracker said:

Have we really moved on from Thomas, though? His so-called pass rush was pure and repeated bull rush. If that failed, he was useless as he had nothing else. That said, how can he teach techniques he never had? I see this as O'Shea giving the finger to his critics.

There's qualified coaches out there at the U Sport level who could come up & be great DL coaches who never get a chance. They languish hoping for an opportunity to coach in the CFL & Osh gives an important coaching position to Thomas. like it's nothing. Just one of his Boyz with absolutely no coaching experience. Just cuz he played (debatable) doesn't mean he can coach. Mind boggling. 

[WinnipegGordo]

 

 

[SpeedFlex27]

Hope it's more than a depth signing. As in Center.

[TBURGESS]

[Booch]

8 hours ago, GCn20 said:

In fairness to Logan he got what one game? Vaval looked like trash his first couple games too.

Jefferson i would keep but with a shave in salary. Vaughters and Kola...yep...bye bye. I would be going after their replacements very hard in FA if I were KW. Sadly he will probably take that week off again. I have zero faith in Walters right now, and I hope I'm wrong.

I dont believe Logan was 100 percent still either..he deserves another camp..its good to have a proven returner as a backup if vaval is back..we seen the effects of none for a yr or so

 

7 hours ago, CrazyCanuck89 said:

Stats are great, but tape is even better.  Coverage ability, can they get off a run block, are they making plays in the backfield.

Makonzo showed that in his rookie yr..hes a legit talent..just unfortunate with injury so far in his early career 

4 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Yep, the litmus test will be free agency. If he does well, I'll change my tune. Until then, nope. Bringing Thomas & Hogan back as coaches is a big red flag for me. 

FA this yr is one of our most important and vital we dont whiff pretty much since early in this regime

3 hours ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Looks like Tui Eli was extended as per the CFL transactions page.

I guess the Bombers media department has the day off today as they havent made the announcement yet.

Smart..solid signing

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

There's qualified coaches out there at the U Sport level who could come up & be great DL coaches who never get a chance. They languish hoping for an opportunity to coach in the CFL & Osh gives an important coaching position to Thomas. like it's nothing. Just one of his Boyz with absolutely no coaching experience. Just cuz he played (debatable) doesn't mean he can coach. Mind boggling. 

Yeah...no sense at all with that choice..regardless how long he played..or how well hes liked

 

[WBBFanWest]

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/30/blue-bombers-re-sign-offensive-lineman-tui-eli-to-two-year-contract/

[Tracker]

16 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Hope it's more than a depth signing. As in Center.

What in O'Shea's history would lead anyone to beieve that Tui is going to get a legit shot at replacing turnstile Kolankowski? 

[Arnold_Palmer]

17 hours ago, WinnipegGordo said:

 

 

Fine with it. I’m not sure if we’re ever going to expect him to be a starter at this point but as a depth player on the o-line I’m perfectly fine with having him back. Can’t ever have too many capable Canadian OL on the roster. 

[Piggy 1]

52 minutes ago, Tracker said:

What in O'Shea's history would lead anyone to beieve that Tui is going to get a legit shot at replacing turnstile Kolankowski? 

Has Kola re-signed????

[Blue In BC]

19 hours ago, blue85gold said:

Osh hires the assistant coaches 

Logan showed nothing at returner last year. Don’t see a need to pay him at all. 
 

No real need for a backup American RB on the roster, better to find a DB or WR that can return if Vaval signs down south 

Some RB's also are very good returners / receivers. However as you pointed out a DB or WR COULD have more value as depth whether or not Vaval is lost for the season.  Peterson is our depth at RB but it seems we bring in an import every TC just to have a look see. 

[Pete Catan's Ghost]

2 hours ago, WBBFanWest said:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/30/blue-bombers-re-sign-offensive-lineman-tui-eli-to-two-year-contract/

….with a promise to appoint him as OLine coach in 2028 #kiddingnotkidding

[rebusrankin]

Maybe just maybe Kyle Walters doesn't bring Kola back taking the decision out of MOS's hands.

[17to85]

19 hours ago, Tracker said:

That said, how can he teach techniques he never had? I

Because teaching isn't about having been able to do a thing,  it's about imparting knowledge onto others.

[Noeller]

42 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Because teaching isn't about having been able to do a thing,  it's about imparting knowledge onto others.

And it's been said over and over again that Jake is one of the smartest guys in the room, especially the Xs and Os... Just because he can't do the thing at the same level anymore doesn't mean he can't teach things. I have high hopes for him... Starting at a lower level assistant coach position is perfect. 

[johnzo]

20 hours ago, Tracker said:

 That said, how can he teach techniques he never had?

cmon man, I get that you like to gripe but you're just saying nonsense here.  Let's look at some GOATs:

Scotty Bowman didn't play in the NHL.  Don Matthews didn't play above the college level and certainly never played Canadian rules.  Bill Belichick didn't play in the NFL.

Closer to home, Kevin Bourgoin was the passing game coordinator / WR coach for the absolutely lethal BC Lions offense this past year and was our WR coach in 2021 when we lapped the whole league.  Yet another dude who topped out as a player in college and went into coaching straight afterwards.  And his playing career was so un-noteworthy that he's got no Wikipedia page and I had to google into a local news story just to discover that he did play at one time.

Edited 1 hour ago by johnzo

[Mike]

It’s actually so weird to me that people are worried about Jake as a positional coach lol nobody has any clue if he’s got what it takes or not and we weren’t whining when Miller got a far more important role

 

then again Miller isn’t a slow, fat whipping boy so I guess there’s that 

[Jets]

15 minutes ago, Mike said:

It’s actually so weird to me that people are worried about Jake as a positional coach lol nobody has any clue if he’s got what it takes or not and we weren’t whining when Miller got a far more important role

 

then again Miller isn’t a slow, fat whipping boy so I guess there’s that 

Not to mention a positional coach running some drills in camp and practice and breaking down some film is a far cry from drawing up schemes and roster management that a coordinator or HC would be responsible for.  A lot of hand wringing over what should be minimal impact. 

[Brandon]

43 minutes ago, Mike said:

It’s actually so weird to me that people are worried about Jake as a positional coach lol nobody has any clue if he’s got what it takes or not and we weren’t whining when Miller got a far more important role

I'm thinking it is the fear of dropping nice guys from the club and giving a guy a pity job because god knows why O'Shea has troubles getting rid of the dead weight.  

 

[Tracker]

3 hours ago, Piggy 1 said:

Has Kola re-signed????

Not that I am aware of, but I'm betting that one of O'Shea's pets will replace him and be an identical liability.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

Because teaching isn't about having been able to do a thing,  it's about imparting knowledge onto others.

If you don't know it, how can you teach it?

[Mike]

2 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Not that I am aware of, but I'm betting that one of O'Shea's pets will replace him and be an identical liability.

If you don't know it, how can you teach it?

If you can’t do it, can you know how to do it?